Ga. Budget Crisis Cutting Into Bible Classes

ATLANTA (AP) - The state's budget crisis is halting the spreadof Bible elective classes in public schools two years after Georgiabecame the first state in the country to approve such courses.

Many districts have shied away from offering the controversial courses because of a fear of lawsuits and a lack of interest amongstudents. But now the millions of dollars the state is slashing from the education budget is affecting how many schools introduce the Biblical literature and history courses.

Some superintendents say even if they wanted to hold the classes, they don't have the teachers to spare after losing so much funding.

Just 37 high schools in 28 Georgia school districts offered the voluntary classes last year, the most recent data available from the state Department of Education.

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